Cigarette-making device



March 17, J N DAUDEUN 2,276,719

CIGARETTE-MAKING DEVICE Filed Jan. 22, 194] 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 276,719 March 17 w42 J. N. DAUDELIN 9^ CIGARETTE-MAKING DEVICE Filed Jan. 22, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 2 Attorney;

Patented Mar. 17, 1942 UN-ie stares rear Lolivine-1E:

CIGARETTE-MAKING DEVICE Joseph Napolon Daudelin, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada Application January 22, 1941, Serial No. 375,485

Claims.

The present invention relates to cigarette-making devices, and more particularly to hand devices embodying a split former tube.

Cigarette-making devices using a former tube having hinged, or independent, halves are known and widely used but, under manycircumstances, present serious drawbacks, the most important of which being non-uniformity of the tobacco charge in the cigarette and the diiculty of working with moist or fresh tobacco.

The present invention has been conceived to avoid the disadvantages enumerated above and to provide a device adaptable to agreat variety of Vcigarette papers and tubes and of highly `diversied utility.

Consequently, the primary object of the invention resides in the provision of a cigarettemaking device which is highly ecient under any condition of tobacco dampness.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of means for more accurately gauging the quantity .of tobacco entering each cigarette.

VA further object contemplates the construction of a device adapted to a variety of cigarette paper tubes.

Finally, yet another object -resides in the provision of a cigarette maker of the type Vdescribed which will be compact, cheap of construction, simple of use and highly efficient.

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will become apparent or further pointed in the course of the description to follow.

As an example, and for purposes of illustration, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the attached drawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows in perspective the various component elements of the invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the invention in operating position,

Figure 3 is a transverse section on line V3 3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figurev 3 but showing a quantity of tobacco in the trough,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through the device of the invention showing the tobaccoL in place and the former tube about to be closed,

Figure 6 is a similar View showing the tube .closed and Vthe tobacco charge therein being compressed at both ends thereof,

Figure 7 is 4an enlargedsectional view taken on line 'l-'I of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is another view i of Vthe closed former tube with the tobacco trimmer being brought downto removev surplus tobacco,

Figure 9-isanother view showing the trimmer being lowereddown the other end ofthe former tube, v

Figure 10 is an enlarged longitudinal :section through the pointed end ofthe formerftube showing-internal construction,

Figure 11 is a sectional transverse view taken on linel I-Ilof Figure 10, l.

Figure 12^shows the pointed end in use toppen a iiattened tube,

Figure 13 illustrates the former tube f closed with a cigarette tube .insertedthereoven Figure 14 shows the vinitial step forremoving thetube from the cigarette proper,

.Figure 15 shows thenal operation, y,

yFigure 16 shows a Celluloid member to be used for easily forming tubes from cigarette paper,

Figure 17 illustrates a -moistening .wick rand handle therefor,

Figure 18 illustrates the member of Figure 16v in use on the tube,

Figure 19 shows the application ofthe meistening device of Figure 17,

Figure 20 is a longitudinal section through the member of Figure 17,

`Figure 21 illustrates the application of the invention to a certaintype of cigarette tube,

Figure 22 shows the trimmer in use when said tubes are utilised, y l

Figure 23 shows the ejection of the finished cigarette from the formertube, and

Figure 24 indicates the disposition of said cigarette on theformer tube prior to ejectment.

`Referring .to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters represent corresponding parts throughout, it `will be seen that the device of the invention consistsessentially of a former tube which, `for convenience and to avoid-confusion with cigarette tubes, will be hereinafter disclosed or calledl former only. `Said former, indicatedgenerally in Figures 2, 5, 6, 8etc. by the reference character F, is comprised of .two separate members called respectively vthe top section 525 and the lowersection 26. VBoth of said sections are adapted to -co-operate together, in order to form a cylinder or tube adapted to receive tobacco, which tobacco is later ,to be transferred to a paper tube slipped over the exterior of said former F.

As shown in exaggerated'form Vin Figure 1*,the sections of the former are both flaringk slightly in the middle and, furthermore, are slightlytapered from one 'end to the other, axially,`to form shelllike members which are deeper at one endand somewhat shallower atthe' otherend. Again, it

.- edges of both sections from one side of the former to the other side. The purpose of this arrangement is to enable the cutting member having edges of reduced diameter, generally indicated at C in Figure 1, to better remove from the meeting edges of the sections, when closed together, the tobacco severed from the batch disposed inside said sections and normally out, or practically so, by the thin edges of the sections.

The object of this former construction is to compact centrally the tobacco charge of the cigarette, as shown in Figure 6.

The individual sections of the former are shown in Figure 11 wherein it will be seen that, in cross section, said individual portions of the former are thicker at the bottom and decrease gradually to a knife edge, said sections affecting approximately the shape of a thin crescent. This is more particularly illustrated in the sectional view of Figure 11.

As shown in enlarged `detail in Figure 7, the lower section 26 is provided at its outer end with a turned knob which may be solid or made up of individual sections 21 and 28 held together by means of a lcentral metallic core 29 and into which the extreme outer end of the section 26 is pressed. Adjacent said knob, at the bottom of the section 26, a pillar 30 is formed which is provided with a bore axially of the lower section 26 and through which a plunger 3| is adapted to e,

slide. This plunger is provided with a flared head 32 and with an outer button 33 normally urged out of the bore 34 formed in the knob by means of a spring 35 `disposed between the pillar 3|) and the inner face `of said button 33.

The upper section 25 is also provided, as shown in Figures 5, l0 and 11, with a similar plunger mechanism which, however is removable. For that purpose, the upper section 25 is provided With a central dovetailed projection 4l] at the extreme outer edge thereof (Figs. 11-21) Over said projection slidably fits ya cylindrical bushing 4| (Fig. l0) having a corresponding groove in order to snugly engage the projection so as to form, in effect, a dovetailed joint. The bushing 4| is bored longitudinally to receive a plunger 42, flared at one end at 42 and threaded at the other end to a. button 43 having an enlarged tapering head 44. As previously disclosed, the purpose of this enlarged head is principally to open flattened tubes by insertion of the pointed end of said head into the tube for opening said last without resort to blowing or other means previously used. This is shown in Figure l2. The button 43 is adapted to slide within the bore 45 of an outer bushing 46 which is adapted, normally, to lie close against bushing 4|. In order to retract the plunger 42, a spring 41 is inserted withinthe bore 45 over the body of plunger .42 between `the end of button 43 and the inner end of bushing 46. Incidentally, as shown in Figure 11, the plunger 42 is of noncircular cross-section, so as to facilitate the threading and unthreading of the button 43 and plunger 42. The same may apply also to plunger 3| of lower section 26.

The mechanism just described constitutes` the basic structure of the cigarette maker, which basic structure is adaptable to a number of adjustments land combinations for adapting the cigarette maker to a wide variety of cigarette-papers and pre-formed tubes found on the market. Various attachments are also provided which are to be presently described and which combine with the basic mechanism to form a highly versatile whole.

In the first place, there must be mentioned the former-supporting base which, at the same time, constitutes a mould or gauge for accurately measuring the quantity of loose tobacco to ent-er each cigarette to be made. This base, indicated generally vby the reference character B, includes the base proper which is a prismatic elongated member having a longitudinal and axial semicircular depression 5|. In practice, this base may be rubber-covered or otherwise decorated to suit the taste of the user. The upper edges 52 of this base are more or less exible, in order to snugly engage and retain the trough-like member or magazine 53, which is adapted to be pressed into' the depression 5| and securely retained therein, `as shown inFigures 3 and 4. This magazine 53 is substantially the useful length of either section 25 or 26 between the plungers, and may be disposed with respect to the base 5U according to the length of cigarette to be made or the amount of tobacco to be compressed therein.

Normally, the magazine is disposed approximately symmetrical with ,the center of the base 5t) and serves to locate the lower former` section 25 by means of the knob 2l which ispushed against the right-hand edge ofthe magazine 53, as shown in Figures 2, 5 and '7.k As distinctly visible in the figures, the diameters of the knobs 2 and 28 are'such that when the base 50 is on a level surface and the former 25 disposed within the magazine 53, the lower edge of said knob will contact with said level surface to prevent tilting of the former tube when the tobacco is disposed prior to making a cigarette.

The cigarette-maker is completed by the cutter C which lconsists of a centre metallic tube 6l) and a concentric enlarged button or` head 6| stretched over said tube. As previously disclosed, the purpose of this tube is .toform a cutter to sever the shreds of tobacco left uncut by the knife edges of the former sections, when closed, and is of such a diameter as to snugly fit over the closed former whereby to remove the surplus tobacco caught between said edges.

Finally, an extension, the purpose of which will be described later, is provided'in theform of a hollow member (Figs. 17-20-21) havingA a threaded end 62 and which is adapted to receive, in the central 'bore thereof, a length' of pipecleaner or the like 6,1 adapted to be covered, when not in use, vby the bushing 68 slidablethereover.

The threaded end 62 ofthe member E5 is covered by a similar bushing 59 having an outer.Y covering 'I0 of a hard wax or the likermaterial for waxing or otherwise treating the. metallic surfaces of the former to prevent undue sticking thereon of tobacco shreds or the like. The member B5 is adapted to constitute an extension for the'purpose of making a certain type of Acigarette such as shown in Figure 23, and will beV described in duetime. j j ,f

In order to make a, conventional cigarette with the ready-made tube found on the market, the base and the magazine are assembled as previously described and the lower section 26 ofthe former disposed in the bottom of the magazine with the knob 21 against the right head, of said magazine. A quantity of tobacco, dictated by the vvtaste of the smokerand previous experience, is placed in the magazine and is generally such that itflls said magazine to the -upper level thereof. The tobacco Vis Vpressed according to taste and 'the upperfsection 2 5 assembled thereover by inserting the inner 'end thereof within the inside `bushing 29 of 'the knob 21, A`as shown in Figures 5 and 7.

The formerislthlen closed and is represented in section in VFigure The cutter C V,is then inserted over the outer end of the yclosed former and saidfillejd 'former placed vertically on a level surface, (Fig. 8) and'thecutter C slid downwardly. This action, besides removing the tobacco eX- tendingv outwardlyfrom the meeting edges of the former section, hasv at thesa-me time the effect of pushing inwardly the button 33v and compressing at one endthetobacco charge within the closed former. vThe operation is then reversed (Figure 9) `and the cutter C again moved downwardly ytowardsthe free'end of theclosed former whereby pushing'inwardly the tapred head (i4 and, at the jsam'etime, the plunger 42 to compress the other end of the tobacco charge.

The cutter is then removed entirely and an empty cigarette-tube, indicated at T (Figure 13) is slipped over the closed former and centered thereon. The somewhat resilient tobacco inside said former is the-n free to expand slightly and to force the individual sections of the former against the tube T which is consequently held in place. This action also separates slightly the two sections from each other and permit the removal of the lower section while holding with the finger the inner end of the upper section (Figure 14). When the lower section has been removed, the finger again holds the cigarette at the other end (Figure 15) and the upper section is removed, whereby the cigarette is then available for immediate use after slightly trimming the open ends thereof with a knife or scissors or the like.

As is well-known, there exist on the marke-t some cigarette tubes which are provided with a cardboard tip or so-called filter-tip, which reduces the available space for the tobacco within the tube and, for the purpose of filling said tube, a slight re-adjustment of the cigarette machine is necessary as presently described. Said cigarette tubes, therefore, must be filled with a smaller quantity of tobacco and, for that purpose, the bushing 68 of member S5 (Fig. 20) is removed and used as a spacer on lower section 25, as shown in Figure 21. This has the effect of moving to the left the plunger 3l and, consequently, to diminish the tobacco charge by the length of the bushing 68 which is of approximately the same length as the filter-tip P of cigarette shown in Figure 23. The bushing, also, serves to assemble to the plunger 3l, after removal of the button 33 therefrom, the member 65 which is added to the length of plunger 3l and to the threaded end 62 of which is threaded plunger 42 removed from the outer end of upper section 25.

As previously disclosed, the bushing @I is removable from section and may be unscrewed from button 183. The purpose of this lengthening of plunger 3l is to enable the entire chargeof the tobacco to be pushed into the cigarette tube T of Figure 23 since, obviously, the tip end P prevents the use of plunger 42 for introducing tobacco at that end. Also, in order that the upper section 25 presents a smooth inner surface for the sliding of the tobacco charge, said section is reversed so that the projection lil is disposed within the knob 21, above or past the member with which it does not interfere.

Finally, and for convenience in operation, the button 33 threadedly removed from plunger '3i forthe present operation is inserted'or threadedlyl engaged with the a'red end of plunger 42 which Vis reversed (Figure 23).

Since it is sometimes desired to remove the cardboard filling constituting the tip of filter- `tip cigarette tubes, this cardboard P "may be pushed out of the tube by the smooth end of the former tube as assembled for making such cigarette, Tas shown in Figure24, or more conveniently still by using the cigarette making device as 'assembled in FigureS and using for the purpose of sliding out the cardboard filter-tip P the enlarged portion of bushing i6 which is of exactlytheinside diameter 'of the cigarette paper tube.

The present 'device is also useful for making eXtra-large cigarettes, or oval cigarettes, due to the peculiar arrangement of the former,y tube. In such cases, a larger quantity of vtobacco is placed in the magazine and compressed in the former. The paper tube is then inserted and centralized, whereupon release thereof will spread the sections apart, while they are held in both hands, thereby facilitating their withdrawal. This action can be ascribed to that shown in Figures 14 and 15 taken together.

In certain circumstances, it may be desired also to use fiat cigarette paper, such as is distributed assembled in dispenser books, in which case each single sheet of cigarette paper is assembled to form a tube over the former F by means of a Celluloid or the like member 'I2 illustrated in Figure 16, and which is used over the closed former to facilitate the winding of the cigarette paper, after which the glued edge H thereof is moistened by means of the moistener M constituted, as presently disclosed, by a pipecleaner or the like inserted within the bore of member 65. The last two operations are illustrated in Figures 18 and 19 respectively.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present device is a most useful combination of elements permitting the use of any and all cigarette paper tubes now distributed on the market, to use also the hat cigarette paper as described above, and also to make said cigarettes in a novel way, whereby the tobacco charge entering said cigarette can be carefully regulated and standardized as well as packed in such a manner by the end plunger as to insure correct and uniform density from one cigarette to the other. More particularly, it is pointed out that this arrangement is especially useful when it is desired to utilize cut tobacco which is then moist or too fresh. As is well known, in such circumstances, the tendency of the tobacco is to pack and stick in the former tube, rendering expulsion thereof extremely diiiicult and sometimes almost impossible. Due to the hand packing of the tobacco, as well as the opposite lateral removal of the former section, the above disadvantage is eliminated and a perfect cigarette is always produced at all times.

It is -to be understood that the form of my .invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that Various changes as to the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without A spring-retracted plungers at both ends of said tube for axially compressing a charge of tobacco in said tube.

2. In an apparatus for making cigarettes, a former tube, said tube comprising a pair of elongated channel-shaped co-operating sections, a removable plunger at both ends of said tube, and spring means for retracting said plungers out- Wardly.

3. A mechanism of the character described comprising, in combination, a base, a trough adjustable over said base, a longitudinally split tubular former element adapted to be disposed longitudinally in the bottom of said trough, means at the outer end of each component section of the tubular element for compressing axially a charge of material disposed in said element, and spring means for retracting said compressing means.

4. In a cigarette maker, a pair of elongated channel-shaped sections adapted to co-operate to constitute a tubular former element, a pillar at the outer end of the lower section for receiving a plunger, a spring for retracting said plunger outwardly, a dovetailed projection on the outer end of the upper section, a bushing having a corresponding dovetailed depression adapted to be removably assembled over the projection of the upper section, a plunger axially disposed in the centre of the said bushing, a spring for outwardly urging said plunger, and knobs on the outer end of both said plungers for moving the same inwardly and thereby compressing axially a charge of tobacco inside the assembled sections.

5. In combination, a longitudinally split former tube, spring-retracted plungers at both ends of said tube for axially compressing a charge of tobacco in said tube, and tobacco charge measuring means into which one section of the split tube is initially disposed for charging purposes.

JOSEPH NAPoLoN DAUDELIN. 

